Did you know that whatever trials you’re facing or difficult circumstances you’re walking through, they represent a promise fulfilled?

“…In this world, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. But TAKE HEART, I have OVERCOME…”
– Jesus (John 16:33)

Jesus told us flat out, we will have troubles.

These things shouldn’t take us by surprise! They’re going to happen.

There will be people who let us down.
There will be things that happen to us that are completely unfair.
There will be times that make no sense.
There will be hurts that are unimaginable.
There will be mountains that seem unclimbable.
There will be circumstances that seem impossible.
There will be days we feel we can’t go on.

BUT GOD…

There is a God who has overcome.
A God who is faithful.
A God who is just.
A God who is fearless.
A God who is a healer.
A God who is higher.
A God who is greater.
A God of the impossible.

A God who loves us, and is for us and will carry us to the other side!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

It’s amazing to me how God gave these lyrics to Tedashii, years before he’d need them like never before. He provides for us in ways we don’t even realize.

When Tedashii wrote this song in 2011, he didn’t know that he and his wife would soon be blessed with a son. He also didn’t know that a year after that, they would lose that little boy.

Long before I was born, my Dad lost his wife and two sons in a car accident. It was that tragedy that ultimately led him to the Lord. He never looked back, and finished strong, serving God with his life and impacting lives for the next 50 years.

It’s hard for us to imagine why things like this happen. I can’t answer that for you either. What I do know is that, like my father was, Tedashii is a man who is truly growing in grace.

After the unspeakable loss of his 1 year old son, He told The Christian Post, “God’s goodness isn’t predicated on our circumstances, He’s good regardless and I think that was really a wrestle early on and is still is at times. I mean this is something we’ll live with for the rest of our lives. We’ll be in that select group of people who experience this but God’s goodness is evident, even in my hardship,” he said. “And it’s cliché for some when the book of James says ‘count it all joy’ when you go through various trials but I think in some moments, being able to count it all joy wasn’t just this conjuring up of emotions … it was a genuine, sincere look at who God is and joy kind of welling up from that.” (Read more from that candid interview by following the link below.)

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.”
– Psalm 52:7

However difficult things may be at the moment, whatever mountain stands in front of you, or storm may be swirling around you, I encourage you to:

HOLD ON to God’s promises.GET IN to God’s Word.STAY ON God’s path, choose His ways.CRY OUT to God. He listens, He cares. Don’t hold it in. You’re never alone.REACH OUT to others.TURN ON some Christian radio. Fill your heart with encouragement! (Check out His Radio.)PRESS ON! God’s molding you and making you into something awesome.

How many times have we betrayed him with our words, our actions, our disobedience, our broken promises, our lack of trust.

If you read the book of Hosea, you’ll see the story of a man who loves his wife despite her unfaithfulness that broke his heart. In many ways it’s a picture of what what we do to God.

He considers our rejection to be spiritual adultery. It grieves God.

Yet, like Hosea, He continues to love us. With an unfailing love.

As Dr. Henry Blackaby puts it in his book, Being Still With God Every Day, “When we stray from Him, He lovingly and relentlessly pursues us. How marvelous to know that even though we may turn our back on God, He never gives up on us.”

Today’s SOTD by The Afters sings of a love like that. One that doesn’t give up. A love like that demonstrated by the father in Luke 15, who waits with open arms….

Next year will mark ten years since Hillsong United first released this song. In the intervening decade, From The Inside Out has been sung hundreds of thousands of times, in churches all over the world and is still being played on radio stations across the globe.

Our Song of the Day is a new take on this modern classic from one of today’s biggest Contemporary Christian artists, For King & Country.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)